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Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Edda from Homesthetics is guest posting on the blog. The question is how do you influence your child to create through drawing. Thank you Edda for the great ideas and for your first guest spot on Happily Ever Rushed.

Influencing the Creativity of the Child Through Drawing Today

For centuries art has shaped humanity for the better, being a factor of immense importance in the development of the mind, of the beautiful and in the well-being of the individual. This affects us all, it soothes the mind of the adult, it emphasizes the development of child, it transforms the educative process creatively. The effects of drawing and coloring today are not recognized by schools all around the world today yet the few that do have confirmed repeatedly times the results of numerous studies: art emphasizes the development of the young mind as it plays a crucial role in the development of cognitive, physical and social skills of the little one.

The impact of artistically actions in child development is immense and in the following rows we will go through a few ideas that will highlight their relevance. It is utterly important for one to encourage the little one in pursuing this activities, questions like “what to draw ?” should never arise as everything that surrounds us can be put under an educative, fun light to help the little one. More details on the effects, after the break.

Motor Skills Development

The movement realized by one`s hand in drawing and sketching naturally creates a connection between the imagination of the individual and reality, bringing the super realm closer to them, emphasizing their creativity and imagination, encouraging one to pursue his dreams.

In this beautiful, simple act the coordination between one`s mind and hand, the connection between pencil or paintbrush and hand tightens, things start to naturally fine tune towards an ideal balance that in life will develop into coordination, intuition and naturalness in movement.

Language Skills Development

Sketching, drawing and painting are great moments for the little one, especially if you draw with them, if you help them portray what they envision, these are moments in which they become communicative and a really strong bond is created.

At a young age the child will do his best to explain his making, his drawing, it offer details about a story that led to the drawing and he will naturally develop his language skill indirectly; you as a parent will have the opportunity present shapes and color in an educative seamless manner through drawing by his side. Be there for them.

Making Decision

Art is more than meets the eye and the process might have a bigger effect that one would think on a child as the tinkering with color, lines and shapes helps the enfant make decision. Very soon he`ll choose what paper to use, what colors and what to draw. Multiple sources of inspiration can help him but in no way he should be overwhelmed by the quantity of information. Make him a consumer of the art environment, learn him about the necessary beauty in our world and lead them away from the mass consumerism that devours children these days; drawing, coloring are remedies.

Conceptualize and Shapes

At a certain point the child starts to show an interest in the realistic component of his drawings. At an age of only three a kid that draws often will want to represent his family. This drawing will look funnily enough to be framed or at least sit on the fridge forever. The connection between reality and imagination at this point is being realized at a concept level. The little one will use lines and circles to materializes what he imagines and this is a great moment, one that needs encouragement and support as the ability to conceptualize talks very much about life, the life of an adult as much as the child`s.

How often do we simplify the task and schedule in our lives only to take a grasp at the bigger picture, to have the impressions of control in ensemble? This conceptualizing process is at a smaller scale the thought process through which indirectly the child is going through. This becomes a crucial skill in life and drawing through various step by step processes can help in this endeavor a great deal. Showing a child how he can transform two circles into an owl is for him, at that point, like showing him a door towards the future.

Serve his appetite for knowledge and nourish his creativity, his imagination, the results will be beyond belief.

Monday, July 25, 2016

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Sunday, July 17, 2016

We were lucky enough to travel to Disneyland this summer and as a pre-planner I knew I had to plan my trip before stepping into the magic. I had lots of fun advice from friends and family and one self proclaimed Disney Princess. Here is the thing, you can listen to all the helpful advice but in reality my most helpful advice was from the actual Disney website.Disneyland didn't do anything half way. When I called the toll free help line, I talked to the kindest person who gave me great advice. The website is also user friendly so utilize it, it is easy to navigate and has the best tips.1) Disneyland or Disney world both are in warm climates. I don't know about you but I am not at all comfortable or patient when I am hot, so dress with the climate in mind. Also, Disneyland and Disney world are massive so wear comfortable shoes. Dress your kids for the same thing. Sturdy shoes that are comfortable and don't cause your kids to trip every step is key.

2) Map your trip - I went on the site and checked all the rides that were age appropriate for my girls. We didn't have a a child over 42 inches so we made sure to narrow down our ride choices by the height requirement. I used the website for this as well - all the rides are on the website and will tell you if they are scary, have big twist and turns or sudden drops. This was also helpful because our little girls are not in to anything scary. We chose family friendly rides and enjoyed every one of our choices. For example we skipped Pirates of the Caribbean and Mr. Toad's wild ride. We especially skipped the haunted house.

3) Get to Disney when it opens. This will help with waiting in lines and allow your little one to enjoy age appropriate rides without all the wait. Purchase your tickets on line, you can also pre-purchase your parking online. We did this and we sailed right thru the lines.4) Don't rush thru Disney. Stroll, take in the sites, meet lots of characters. This will delight your child over and over. They have changed how things go with the characters so you can see lots of them but they don't tell you where and when. It is by chance. Let your kids go at their own speed, it will keep things calm and happy.5) If there is something your children are most wanting to see/ride/visit then do that first. Some of the more popular rides will fill up quickly. Our daughter's were excited to see the Princesses so we went to the Royal theater first and it was worth it. We walked by a couple of times and mid-day the wait was more than an hour. We were relieved that when we went it was a 15 minute wait for some Princess time.

6) This was our most important step - We reserved online prior to our visit our restaurant choice and time for lunch. We picked a restaurant that was quick to get to, child friendly and inside. I am so glad we chose to do this ahead of time. By lunch time our kids were hot, hungry and tired. That is the perfect storm. So right at 11:30 we walked into our chosen restaurant, gave our name and were seated within 5 minutes. We had a much needed break from the sun, took potty breaks and sat down for a good lunch. If you don't make a reservation you chance waiting a long time to eat or eating at the vendor stands. Once lunch was finished we were ready to get back to the fun.7) If you are local take a stroller. If not. Disney rents strollers. It was 100% worth it. Little legs get tired and need a rest. You will not regret taking a stroller. Disney of course makes the process easy, peaceful and fun!

**Bonus tip** Disney offers a photo card that you carry with you all day and the on site photographers grab from you prior to picture taking. Then you upload it the next day and you can purchase or not purchase any of the photos. I have never been more grateful than to have done the photo experience. This makes it possible for your whole family to be in multiple pictures together and helps you remember the magic. When I looked at mine the next day, my heart melted at some of our pictures and finally, I was in pictures with my family.

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I am so excited to have Zoe from Smooth Decorators guest hosting this week while I am on vacation. Check out her great ideas for decorating and creating a family friendly space.

How to create a family-friendly bathroom

Life with children is not always fun and games, especially if the kids are little and curious. Child-proofing the house starts in the nursery and ends in the garden – but before you finish tying up all loose (and potentially kid-hazardous) ends at home, don’t forget to modify the bathroom for whole-family use in mind. Here are a few tips on how to transform the shower room into a spot safe for both adults and kids.

1. Go open with the shelving

Use open shelving to make it easier for children to reach bathroom essentials, and organize the toiletries so that everything your kids need is in plain sight. That way, you’ll minimize the odds of coming home to messy bathroom storage units – or a toddler piled under crumpled towels, rolls of toilet paper, and toothbrushes.

2. Wainscoting for mold-free loo

If your kids have a flair for arts, their masterpieces can easily wind up sprawled across the walls even in rooms dedicated to personal hygiene. To prevent your little Michelangelo from smearing loo walls, install wainscoting: on top of doodle-proofing bathroom walls, the extra protection coat will also keep the sensitive surface safe from dents, scratches, and mold growth. Plus, it will add character to your shower room.

3. Full-wall tiles for easy cleanup

When in water, 9 out of 10 kids can splash around for hours, so leaving them unattended in the tub is never a good idea – unless your walls are covered in full tiles. Floor-to-ceiling tiles are a quick fix for wall mold in bathrooms with poor ventilation, and they are also easier to clean up after a water-wrestling session with your playful angel.

4. Throw in low cabinets and mirrors

Children like to be treated as adults, but that still doesn’t mean you should place the soap tank and toothbrushes out of your little one’s reach. Add a low cabinet to your bathroom so that the kid(s) would always have toiletries close at hand. You should also consider installing a mirror low to make it easier for your little prince or princess to go about their daily hair combing and teeth brushing routines.

5. Out with the towel rail swings

Towel rails are cool, especially from a kid’s point of view: wall-mounted objects make great swings, but swinging on the towel rail often ends in tears. Replace towel rails by door-mounted hooks or keep the towels folded on the shelf. It’s always better to be safe than risk slip-and-falls, especially in areas with high humidity and lots of smooth surfaces.

6. Non-slip covers for fall-free loo

As for slippery bathroom floors, those can be a disaster scene in the making even for adults, let alone playful kids. For this reason, Ozzy Plumbing experts recommend dressing bathroom floors with non-slip covers, or installing slip-proof flooring such as tumbled marble, mosaic tiles, or linoleum.

7. Ditch the sharp edges, or else

Sharp edges are a no-no with a toddler in the house, and this goes for the bathroom, too. Before you buy metal and/or porcelain elements or fittings with pointy edges, ask the shop assistant if the item is available in a softer material such as acrylic. If possible, pick bathroom elements with round rather than sharp corners to keep your offspring scratch- and cut-free.

With a child in the house, every trip to the loo is a test of parental love and patience. Follow the steps listed above to minimize the risk of slips, falls, cuts, and bruises, just to keep your junior on the safe side of the bathroom. Good luck with the renovation!

Friday, July 8, 2016

I am so excited to have Zoe from Smooth Decorators guest hosting this week while I am on vacation. Check out her great ideas for decorating and creating a family friendly space.

Thanks Zoe!

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House Flipping as a Family Business

A recent survey showed that nearly one in four adult Americans have credit card debt that exceeds their savings. If they have savings at all. Let us not forget those with student loans either. Add all the unemployment issues to this, as well as the newest predictions that another global financial crisis is imminent, and the prospects of paying off ones debts in the next 10+ years seem bleak. So, is there any hope left for having any quality of life? Actually there is. Taking things into your own hands and starting a family business might be the solution for those who wish to gain financial freedom and become debt-free. If you have no idea what sort of business you should start, we suggest house flipping.

Why House Flipping?

Buying relatively low-cost homes, fixing them up, and selling them at a profit involves a lot of hard work and carries a number of risks with it, but the rewards can be very lucrative. If it was not the case, many Hollywood celebrities who flip houses on the side would not be wasting their time on it. And the more money you invest at the beginning, the more profit you are likely to gain.

How to Start?

If you do not want to gamble with your family’s future, there are some things you need to learn about house flipping. It is not for the weak-hearted and those looking to get rich quickly. It is a time consuming venture that takes patience. Rushing into things thoughtlessly does not necessarily mean that you will fail, but it will most definitely chip away at your profit.

Before you begin the process of purchasing a house, do your research and educate yourself. Visit seminars about house flipping, or look for useful material online, such as free downloadable ebook by Flip2freedom community. Share this part of the legwork with your entire family and give research assignments to everyone.

To enter the house flipping market, ideally, you will need money for a down payment. But if the money is not available, there are different borrowing options. Ask a friend for a loan or find a business partner just to get started.

Now, the real money in this line of work lies in sweat equity. That is another reason to get your whole family involved. If you hire a contractor to do all the repairs, your profit will be drastically reduced. So, get everyone to grab a hammer, or a nail gun, and start fixing.

How Will This Affect Your Children?

Cortney and Robert Novogratz have been successfully juggling dozens of flipping projects and seven children for over twenty five years, and they believe that house flipping is all but bad for your kids. Both parents agree that this kind of family business can be used to develop strong work ethic with your kids and teach them various practical skills. Besides, your children’s unique personalities can be a valuable contribution in the renovation process. If you are concerned that constant moving could be stressful for the youngest members of your family, do not worry. If it is only the house they are changing, but not the school or town, then it can actually teach them to be more flexible. Another way in which your children can participate (provided that they are old enough) is to run a blog about your projects. This can bring additional income to your household budget.

While the debt payoff can be the strongest motivator to start flipping houses, saving for retirement, quitting the rat race, and spending more time with your family are not insignificant benefits either.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

I am so excited to have Zoe from Smooth Decorators guest hosting this week while I am on vacation. Check out her great ideas for decorating and creating a family friendly space.

Thanks Zoe!

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How to Create a Fun and Practical Children's Room

If any room in your home gives you a free hand to decorate it in any way you imagine, then it’s your kid’s room. This space should be a reflection of your little one’s personality and, since your munchkin is one-of-a-kind, their room should also be unique. The tricky part, however, is that children’s rooms are multipurpose rooms, which are used for sleeping, playing and learning. So, while you’re trying to create a fun space that your child will enjoy, you must not neglect its practicality and functionality. Here are some ideas on how to achieve all of it.

Safety Comes First

Depending on your child’s age, there are certain safety measures you should consider. These include anything from cool lights and window guards, to socket covers and smoke alarms. Make sure to eliminate as many potential hazards as possible. That way you won’t have to worry while your child is playing in their room.

Practicality Follows

A pirate ship bedroom is every boy’s dream come true. But, before you even notice, your boy will grow into a teenager and his interests will move on from pirates and treasure hunts. For this reason, less pretentious solutions are far more practical. As far as your kids are concerned, a colourful rug in the middle of the room is all they need. Their imagination will do the rest. So, stick to décor and design elements that are easily removed or replaced once your little one outgrows them. A tent in the corner of the room makes an excellent hideaway, and you can take it down in five minutes. Throw in a beanbag, which your kids will appreciate even at older age. Choose neutral colours for the walls and furniture, and add colour with details. Look for colourful curtains or blinds in onlinestores and make a fun pattern or a strong contrast to the walls.

Learning is Fun

Toys and play are not just for fun. They’re an essential part of a child’s development. When buying toys for your kids, make sure they’re appropriate for their age and that they stimulate creativity, and cognitive and motor skills. Cover one wall with chalkboard paint and let your little ones find their inner artists. Are you raising a little explorer? Then they will love a world map wallpaper. Foster a love of reading with your children by creating a cosy reading nook. Books will take them on impossible adventures and help them develop their imagination. All you need to do is display them on open lower shelves and keep their favourites within reach. Place the nook close to a window or install a reading lamp, to protect you kids’ eyesight.

Teach Them Organization

Make sure to provide enough storage space in the children’s room to stash away the mountains of toys and teach your kids from an early age to put them back when they’re done playing. Turn it into a game. If the kids don’t see it as an obligation, it will be more appealing to them. To make the game even more fun, mix up the containers, teaming up boxes, baskets, and drawers. Use boxes of different colours and let your little ones guess if the cars go into the red, yellow, or green box. When they are a bit older, put pictures of toys on the containers and tell them to match the toy with the picture. And when they learn to read, replace pictures with words.

Author bio:

Zoe Clark is a mom of one baby girl, DIY and home design enthusiast. Since decor is her passion, she is always trying to use it for learning and playing with her daughter.